Mechanical game



B. F. SMITH MECHANICAL GAME Nov. 14, 1939.

2 sheets-sheet 1 Filed April ll, 1938 Nov, 14, 1939.

MECHANICAL GAME Filed April ll, 1938 2 Sheets-SheetI 2 Invn isn T. 5mi

B. F. SMITH 2,180,123 f Patented Nov.' 14, 1939 Benjamin F. Smith, GrandRapids, Mich.

Application April 11, 1938, Serial No. 201,313

13 Claims.

This invention relates generally to a game apparatus and is directedmore specifically to a ball game having a resilient field wherebymanually operated means for controlling the movements of the balla'reprovided.

' The principle underlying the operation of the game is the fact that aball is caused to move over a surface formed of a resilient materialsuch as cloth, fabric, rubber or any other material which is adapted tobe stretched between supports. Various means may be provided forcontrolling the movements of the ball such as lever arms or fingersextending inwardly from each end of the structurewhich supports theresilient -eld, and which mayy extend under the field whereby amanipulation of the lever arms or ngers will effect a rise or adepression in the resilient eld,

Vcausing the ball to move in the direction of a depression, or away froma rise in said eld.

By causing a movement of the ball in 'this manner, little or no elementof chance is involved. On the contrary, the outcome of the game dependsalmost entirely on the skill of the operator or player, thus making it agame of skill rather than chance, and enhancing the interest therein.

vThe principle-of the invention may be adapted to such games asfootball, basketball, baseball, hockey, socker, golf or any other gamewhich is to be played by one player or between two opposing sides orteams with the use of one or more balls.

There are a number of different ways in which the 'lever arms may b-econstructed in order to control the movements of the ball, but it is tobe understood that regardless of the manner in which thevlever arms maybe constructed or mounted, the underlying principle by which the ball iscaused to move will remain the same.

The principal object of' the invention is to provide a resilient surfacestretched between supporting structures over which a ball may be causedto move by operation of manual means.

Another object of my invention is to provide suitable means whereby themovementsl of the ball may be controlled due to the skill of the player,leaving little or no element of chance in the game.

Other objects of the invention will appear as the description proceeds.

To the accomplishment of the foregoing and related ends said invention,then consists of the means hereinafter fully described and particularlypointed out in the claims.

The annexed drawings and following descrip- (Cl. 273-85)v tion setVforth in detail certain means of applying the principle of myinvention, said means constituting however but a few of the various waysin which the principle of my invention may be used.

In said annexed drawings, wherein like reference numerals refer to likeparts in the various iigures:

Fig. 1 isa perspective View of one form of my invention.

Fig. 2 is a top plan view o-f Fig. l with a portion broken away to moreclearly show the manner in which one forni of controlling means may bemounted. l

Fig. 3 is a longitudinal section through the apparatus of Fig. 1.

Fig. 4 is a fragmentary sectional vi-ew lshowing a modicatio'n of themanually operable means for controlling'movements of the ball.

Fig. 5 is a fragmentary sectional View showing 20 `still anothermodication of the manually opery able means.

Referring now more particularly to the drawings and more especially toFigs, l, 2 and 3, the apparatus consists of a base member I which hassecured thereto upwardly extending end members '2` and upwardlyextending side members 3. The eld 4 is formed cfa resilient materialcapable of withstanding the rather severe usage to which it is subjectedby continual contact therewith of the manually operable means.

This field portion 4 is preferably constructed of two sheets of thematerial used, which are secured together over a substantial area andallowed to separate at the ends and sides thereof so that a part of theupper portion 5 at the ends may be secured to the upper edge of the endportions 2 and the side portions l may be secured l to the upper edge ofthe sides 3. The lower portions 5a of the field will then be secured tothe lower edge of th-e end portions. 2, as more clearly shown in Fig. 3,and the side portions of the field which extend downwardly will besecured in a like manner to the lower edge of the side members 3, or tothe edges of the base-portion l.

It will be seen in this construction that the eld 4 may be stretchedtightly to form a horizontal field, and when a ball is placed thereon,the movements of the ball may be controlled by a rise or a depressionadjacent the ball in the field.

In th-e form of the invention shown I have provided goals l and 8 ineach end ofthe apparatus and it is the object, in this form of the game,for the player at each end to so move the ball that it will enter thegoal opposite said player.

Since the player at the opposite end has similar means for controllingmovements of the ball, he may attempt to prevent the ball from enteringhis own goal as well as attempt to force the ball in his opponents goalwhile using similar controlling means.

If the apparatus is to be adapted for a different type of game, suitablegoals may be provided or even a plurality of holes placed in the fieldwould be possible in order to adapt the apparatus to any particular typeof game. Since the upwardly sloping end and side portions 5 and 6 arealso resilient, the ball may be prevented from being forced over theedge of the supporting structure due to the fact that when the ballapproaches or rolls upon one of these upwardly extending and slopingmembers, the tendency will be for the ball to roll back and return tothe field or surface.

One of the means which I have conceived for controlling the movements ofthe ball is a plurality of pivotally mounted lever arms 9 of varyinglengths. The innermost ends lll of each of these lever arms are curvedupwardly as at 11 in Fig. 3 so that in their normal position the upperextremity of the arm will be in Contact with the resilient field.

The base l is provided with a plurality of upstruck portions l2 to whichthe lever arms may be pivoted as at i3. In this type of controllingmeans springs M are provided near the inner ends of the lever arms andsecured to the base I so that after an upward movement of the inner endthe spring will return the arm to its normal position.

Each of the end members 2 is provided with a plurality of slots l5through which extend the outer ends of the lever arms and which may beformed in such a manner as to provide horizontal portions I6 so that aplayer may press downwardly on the lever arms with his fingers to impartan upward motion to the inner end of the arm.

Since each of the lever arms 9 is of a different length, the player wilbe enabled to control the ball at any point in the field. It is to beunderstood that the arrangement shown in Fig. 2 of these lever arms maybe modified, their lengths varied and the number changed, withoutdeparting in any way from the spirit of the invention.

Since each end is provided with the same number of levers having acorresponding arrangement, neither player has any advantage over theother by playing at a particular end.

Referring now more particularly to Fig. 4, this modification of themanually operable means includes the same upstruck portion l2, the leverarm Sa, however', terminates at the point I'I where it is pivotallymounted to the upstruck portion I2. t any suitable point along the leverarm is secured an upwardly extending portion l 8 which is secured at I Sto the resilient field. It will thus be seen that a downward movement ofthe outer end lct of the arm 9a will then produce a downward movement ofthe field 4 causing a depression therein as indicated in the dotted lineof Fig. 4. When such a depression occurs adjacent the ball it will beobvious that the ball will have a tendency to roll toward suchdepression. No spring will be necessary in this modification since thelever arm is indirectly secured to the field and when the field portionreturns to its normal position the lever arm will do likewise.

in this particular modification a plurality of the arms 9a will beprovided similarly as in the first modification shown in Fig. l, thearms being of various lengths and the upwardly extending portions I8being secured at various points to the underside of the resilient field4. Thus it will be seen that in this modification that instead ofcontrolling the ball by an upward movement of the field the ball will becontrolled by causing a depression therein. The object of the game ineither case may be the same.

Referring now to Fig. 5, this particular modication embodies the use ofonly a single lever arm 2S. This arm may be secured to the end member 2in such a manner as to allow a longitudinal and lateral movement withrespect to the field as well as an up and down motion. A short tubularmember 2l may be pivotally secured as at 22 to the end member and mayalso be provided with a ball and socket or any other suitableconstruction to provide for a universal movement of the lever arm 2Q.

The inner end 23 of the lever arm 2i! extends upwardly and is adapted tocontact the resilient field d. The player. by grasping the outer end 2of the lever arm 20 will have full control of the ball at any point inthe field due to the construction in the end portion 2 which allows auniversal movement as well as a longitudinal movement thereof. The fieldhere will be raised by the arm 28 as shown in its dotted line position.

It is also to be understood that the sloping portions 5 and 5 need notbe made of the same material as the resilient field. That is to say,that it is within the scope of my invention to provide a field which maybe secured to the surrounding supporting structure by means of anyresilient or flexible material. Also other forms of controlling themovements of the ball may be utilized other than the ones heredisclosed, provided, however, that the means stated by any of thefollowing claims or the equivalent of such stated means be employed,

I therefore particularly point out and distinctly claim as my invention:

i. A mechanical ball game comprising a resilient field portion, asurrounding structure to enclose said field, said field portion havingupwardly and downwardly sloping portions around the edge thereof securedto said surrounding structure, a ball, and manually operable meansupwardly and downwardly sloping means to resiliently secure said fieldto the upper and lower edges of said structure, a ball, and meansextending inwardly from each end of said structure and beneath saidfield to control the movements of said ball.

3. A game of the character described comprising a resilient fieldportion, means for enclosing said field, resilient means slopingupwardly and downwardly for suspending said field portion from the upperand lower edges respectively of said enclosing means, a ball, and aplurality of pivotally mounted fingers extending inwardly from each endof said enclosing means and beneath said field portion, said fingersadapted to be manipulated to cause a rise and fall of portions of theresilient field to thereby control the movements of said ball.

4. A mechanical ball game comprising a base having upwardly extendingside and end portions, a two ply resilient field portion having itsupper .side secured to the upper edges of said side and end portions andits lower side secured to the lower edges of said side and end portions,a ball, manually operable means extending inwardly from either endportion to control the movements of said ball., and upstruck portions insaid base to which said means are pivotally secured for operation.

5. A mechanical ball game comprising a supporting structure, a fieldformed of fabric stretched taut in a horizontal plane within saidsupporting structure, side and end members extending angularly from saidfield also formed of fabric securing said field to the upper and loweredges of said supporting structure, a ball, and

means extending inwardly from either end of said structure to controlthe movements of said ball.

6. The combination of elements dened in claim 5, said last named meansincluding a plurality of pivotally mounted levers extending inwardlyfrom each end of the supporting structure and having portions extendingthrough and beyond said structure whereby a downward movement thereofwill produce a rise in the field to move the ball.

7. The combination of elements defined in claim 5, said last named meansincluding a lever arm slidably mounted in each end of said structurebelow said field and adapted to be moved longitudinally and laterally ofsaid field.

8. The combination. of elements defined in claim 5, said last namedmeans including a plurality of pivotally mounted levers extendinginwardly from each end of the supporting structure having portionsextending through and beyond said structure and members extendingupwardly from each of said levers secured to said fabric field whereby adownward movement thereof will produce a depression in said fleld tomove said ball.

9. A mechanical ball game comprising a supportingA structure, a two plyfield formed of rubber stretched taut in a horizontal plane within saidstructure and substantially midway between the upper and lower edges ofsaid structure, side and end members also formed of rubber securing theupper surface of said eld to the upper edge of said structure and thelower surface of the eld to the lower edge of said structure, a,

ball, and means extending beneath saideld to control the movements ofsaid ball.

10. The combination of elements defined in claim 9, said last namedmeans including a plurality of pivotally mounted levers extendinginwardly from each end of the supporting structure and having portionsextending through and be'-A yond said structure whereby a downward moveyment thereof will produce a risein the field to move the ball.

11. The combination of elements defined in wardly from each of saidlevers secured to 'said rubber field whereby a downward movement thereofwill produce a depression in said field to move said ball. i

13. In a mechanical ball game having a base with upwardly extending sideand end portions, a eld including'a double thickness of material, saidthicknesses being separated for a distance about the edges thereof, theupper thicknessbeing secured to the upper edges of said side and endportions, and the lower thickness secured to the lower edges of saidside and end portions, whereby said field is suspended substantiallymidway between said upper and lower edges.

BENJAMIN F. SMITH.

